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Biomedical subjects

J E Mutchler

Publications and source records attributed to J E Mutchler.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Work transitions and health in later life.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of the analysis was to examine the association between health status and work behavior among men aged 55-69. We specifically examined the conditions under which health is most strongly associated with labor force exit and reentry. METHODS: The association between health and labor force transitions was examined using logistic regression analyses, based on data from the 1984 and 1985 panels of the Survey of Income and Program Participation. RESULTS: We found that for men aged 55-69 in the mid-1980s, poor health was positively associated with labor force exit, and negatively associated with returns to work. Although these main effects are very strong, we found that health was particularly important among individuals for whom retirement was least attractive. Health had its most substantial association with work transitions among men with working wives, as well as among men who were younger, or who had limited nonwork financial resources. Health also had a particularly strong association with work transitions among Black men, but only with reference to reentry decisions. DISCUSSION: Our results suggest that continued work may have limited appeal for men who are prepared for retirement, even when they are in excellent health.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1999

English language proficiency among older Hispanics in the United States.

Hispanics will constitute a growing part of the older population well into the 21st century. Accompanying this growth, we can expect that challenges associated with a large bilingual and non-English speaking older population may become more pronounced. The purpose of this research was to examine the level and determinants of English proficiency among older Hispanics in the United States. Data from the 1990 Census indicate that a third of the older Hispanic population in the United States speaks English poorly or not at all. This group includes a sizable number who are "linguistically isolated" in that they either live alone or with other nonproficient speakers of English. Using multivariate logistic regression techniques, it is shown that immigrant status and timing, socioeconomic status, geographic concentration, and national origin are key determinants of English proficiency.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Pathways to labor force exit: work transitions and work instability.

The purpose of this study is to examine alternative pathways to labor force exit among older men. Based on the life course perspective, we distinguish between crisp exits from the labor force, which are characterized as being unidirectional, and blurred transition patterns, which include repeated exists, entrances, and unemployment spells. Using longitudinal data from the 1984 Survey of Income and Program Participation, we find that one-quarter of the sample of men aged 55 to 74 at first interview experienced at least one transition in labor force status over a 28-month observation period. Fewer than half of these can be characterized as crisp exists from the labor force. Our multivariate analysis suggests that blurred transition patterns are likely part of an effort to maintain economic status in later life.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1994

Women's labor force participation in later life: the effects of early work and family experiences.

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a model of labor force participation among a group of older women in the United States. A comprehensive measure of women's combined work and family experiences across the adult life course was created. Employing data from the 1984 Survey of Income and Program Participation, we applied multinomial logistic regression techniques to examine the association between work-family experiences and later life labor supply. Our findings generally support an attachment hypothesis, showing that women who were the most work-oriented throughout the life course were more likely than women who experienced family-related spells of nonlabor-market activity to participate in the labor force, either full-time or part-time, later in life.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Nativity, acculturation, and economic status: explanations of Asian American living arrangements in later life.

Using 1980 Census data, we examined the household and nonhousehold living arrangements for older, unmarried women of Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, and Korean descent, finding substantial variation across ethnic groups. We tested three hypotheses regarding the effects of acculturation, economic status, and nativity/immigration status. The results from our multivariate analyses show that Chinese-origin and Filipino-origin women who are less acculturated are more likely to live with others than those who are more acculturated. Members from each Asian American group who can afford independent living are more likely to purchase their privacy. The most consistent finding shows that older, unmarried Asian American women who have migrated to the United States since 1965 are more likely than similar native-born women to live in a complex household as compared to living alone.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1992

The living arrangements of unmarried elderly Hispanic females.

In this paper we examine the influence of cultural preferences on living arrangements for a sample of older unmarried Hispanic and non-Hispanic white females. We develop a conceptual framework composed of three sets of factors: availability of kin, economic and health feasibility, and cultural desirability. Our analyses show that household living arrangements among Hispanic and non-Hispanic females are more similar when we control for these three sets of factors, and that cultural desirability factors are particularly important. The likelihood that elderly Hispanic females will reside in an institution is actually decreased, however, when we control for these factors; this finding suggests a strong reluctance among Hispanics to use formal long-term care facilities.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Racial differences in health and health care service utilization in later life: the effect of socioeconomic status.

In this paper we examine the hypothesis that health differences between Blacks and Whites in later life are related to socioeconomic status. Using the 1984 panel of the Survey of Income and Program Participation, we construct four measures of health and two measures of health care service utilization. Multivariate analyses show that the racial differences are eliminated in some measures of health and health care service utilization after holding constant individual-level socioeconomic characteristics and resources. However, even after accounting for differences in socioeconomic status, Black self-rated health is poorer than that of Whites. Further, Blacks report more visits to medical personnel but do not report higher rates of hospitalization when levels of health and economic resources are controlled. Additional analyses suggest that the impact of socioeconomic status on health is different for Blacks than for Whites.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1991

A longitudinal analysis of household and nonhousehold living arrangements in later life.

Most explanatory models of living arrangements in later life link the decision process surrounding choice of living arrangement to personal resources such as income and health. Applications of these models, however, are based for the most part on cross-sectional rather than longitudinal data. In this paper we examine living arrangements in later life among the nonmarried population aged 55 and over, using data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation. We observe individuals as they change living arrangements, die, or become institutionalized. Our results suggest that economic resources dominate the decision-making process in transitions across different household arrangements, whereas health is most important in explaining institutionalization.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

Household composition among the nonmarried elderly. A comparison of black and white women.

Differences in household composition between Black and White women have often been explained as resulting from differences in the resources of the two groups, particularly economic differences. A competing viewpoint holds that living arrangements reflect the cultural context within which life choices are negotiated. The purpose of this article is to assess the relative merits of these arguments. In this analysis, the extensive data available in the 1984 panel of the Survey of Income and Program Participation are employed. Indicators of health, kinship, income, and wealth are included in the analysis of living arrangements among Black and White women aged 55 and over. The results indicate that these resources are associated with choice of living arrangements among members of the two groups, but the Black and White women respond differently to levels of wealth and health when making decisions about household composition.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1989

Elderly persons living alone: the effect of community context on living arrangements.

Current explanations of elderly household composition focus largely upon individual demographic, economic, and health characteristics and frequently ignore the effects of the community context within which elderly persons live. In this study, we incorporate the community context into an aggregate explanation of intermetropolitan variation in rates of living alone among elderly persons. We contend that three crucial community resources influence the rate of living alone: demographic and normative environment, economic affordability, and community social services. Data for Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the United States in 1980 provide initial support for this community-level explanation of elderly household composition.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1977

Expirical relationships among heat stress indices in 14 hot industries.

This study develops empirical relationships between several indices of heat stress derived from a series of studies in 14 representative, hot industries. With particular emphasis on Wet Bulb-Globe Temperature, the analysis verifies and supplements certain relationships between heat stress indices developed by other investigators. Because of its large industrial data base, the study also provides a reliable basis for interrelating heat stress indices in future standard-setting procedures.

Environmental Exposure↗
PubMed1976

An improved method for monitoring heat stress levels in the workplace.

Studies in 15 industries revealed characteristic empirical relationships between workplace environmental conditions and outside weather conditions. These relationships, expressed in the form of predictive models for Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, can be used to estimate WBGT from weather forecasts, weather reports, or current meterorological measurements.

Environmental Exposure↗